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Las Vegas has a market population of 1.7 million with a combined metro population of almost 850,000. This would rank it around 13th among other U.S. cities. Yet, it doesn't have a major professional franchise. That is about to change.

Winning a championship in any professional sport is a war of attrition. Getting to the top in the National Hockey League takes added resolve and finesse. An 80-game season alone takes its toll on teams.

Broomball is such a fun sport to play. First off, due to the fact that you're running around on ice and slipping and sliding everywhere, no single person has a huge advantage that can change the game. Even though I grew up playing ice hockey, etc. running around on the ice in sneakers is very humbling to even the most competent players.

A team is a team for a reason. No one person makes up a team in the game of hockey. The good, the bad and the ugly are all part of the team, and each part of that group is what makes a team successful.

Who's going to be hotter -- the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Chicago Blackhawks? Streakiness is one of the concepts -- like clutchness, choking, and luck -- that we often use to make sense of a multi-game series like the Stanley Cup Finals.

As I mentioned previously it seems as if there are always some bizarre or hilarious developments in the world of sport while I am out of touch. A few days ago I reported on my experiences watching hockey in Russia. Now I want to revisit what many of you will consider old news.

Back in 1977, I was in the office of Cincinnati Stingers owner Bill DeWitt, getting ready to sign my contract for the World Hockey Association team. I put down the pen for a moment and told Mr. DeWitt a story.

Back in February, the NHL proudly announced that it ranked number 17 on the EPA's National Top 100 list of the largest users of green power. It became the first professional sports league ever to achieve this important distinction.

I was watching a Russian Pee Wee team play against one of our Mass Selects when I was reminded by the U.S. coach to tell the Russian coach that we don't allow checking at that level in North America. The Russian coach laughed.

April 12, 2015 will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the boldest statements in the history of the storied Toronto Maple Leafs franchise. A new front office, new coaching and scouting staff, a new approach and certainly a lot of new players are just the beginning.

A well-played hockey game is about as captivating and impressive a spectacle that exists in team sports (at least I think so). The action is non-stop, with much skilled movement and few prolonged breaks.

Recently, I saw a quote from Jaromir that really struck home with me. Jagr has been known to skate at midnight after playing in games. He outworks much younger teammates in the gym and adheres to a training regimen that borders on the surreal. That is why he's still around.

At the professional levels, there are regular crews who work the league that oversee operations and the penalty and game clocks. These folks are invaluable to us on-ice officials, and very often they spot things that the officials -- and even the coaches -- miss.

You know something I've never seen? I've never seen a referee or linesman who is "biased" toward or against a particular team. I would say so if it was otherwise, and probably would have to be physically separated from the SOB if we were in the same place at the same time.